Obanazawa Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)

Step into the fairy-tale world of Spirited Away - Ginzan Onsen

Ginzan Onsen, located in Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, not only has a long-standing culture but is also a representative attraction in the Tohoku region of Japan. Named after the silver mine discovered over 500 years ago, the area is rich in snowfall❄️ in winter, and the century-old wooden houses on the hot spring street are covered in silver, creating a dreamlike and fantastical atmosphere as if time has stood still. The Japanese TV drama 'Oshin' was filmed here, and the inspiration for Yubaba's bathhouse in Spirited Away also comes from here, making Ginzan widely known. Detailed address: Ginzan Onsen, Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan 🚌Transportation advice: To get to Ginzan Onsen on your own, you must first go to the nearest JR Oishida Station or Obanazawa City Hall, and then take a local bus from these two places to Ginzan Onsen. 1️⃣How to get to JR Oishida Station From Sendai: Take the JR Senzan Line to Yamagata > JR Yamagata Line to Oishida From Yamagata: Take the JR Yamagata Line to Oishida 2️⃣How to get to Obanazawa City Hall From Sendai: Take a bus from in front of Sendai Station to Obanazawa City Hall From Yamagata: No direct route 3️⃣ From Oishida Station to Ginzan Onsen, Boarding location: Bus stop next to Oishida Station, One-way fare: 1000 yen, cash only. Duration: About 45 minutes. 4️⃣ From Obanazawa City Hall to Ginzan Onsen Boarding location: In front of Obanazawa City Hall One-way fare: 850 yen, cash only Duration: About 25 minutes. ⚠️ Since there are not many bus services, be sure to plan your time in advance and pay attention not to miss the bus. ⏳Opening hours: Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-Sunday 8:30-15:30 (Time is for reference only, please refer to the information posted on the day) 🚶‍♀️Suggested visiting time: 2-5 hours 🎫Ticket information: Free

Who knows who goes! Ginzan Onsen takes you through Spirited Away!

Ginzan Onsen✖️Zao Tree Ice✖️Zao Fox Village The winter dream trip has started booking❗ Winter Limited❄️ December 2, 2023 - March 6, 2024 Departure City☃️ Tokyo Tour Highlights✨ ✅Visit World Cultural Heritage: Toshogu Shrine🏯 ✅Close contact with super cute foxes: Zao Fox Village🦊 ✅Visit the real scene of 'Spirited Away': Ginzan Onsen♨️ ✅Unique snow monster: Zao Tree Ice🎄 ✅Experience 1⃣️ night hot spring bath (one night two meals) ✅Pure play without shopping🛍️, Chinese and Japanese bilingual guide service📚 Itinerary Reference🎨 Day1⃣️ ☃️Toshogu Shrine ☃️Ginzan Onsen ☃️Four-star hot spring hotel Day2⃣️ ☃️Zao Tree Ice ☃️Miyagi Fox Village If you travel to Japan in winter, you must not miss the beautiful❄️ snow scene here! Ginzan Onsen is located on the old site of a silver mine in the countryside of Yamagata Prefecture. Not only does it have the prototype of the soup house👵 in 'Spirited Away', but it also makes you feel like you are walking into the scene of Hayao Miyazaki's animation. At night, put on a kimono and stroll on the street. The quaint buildings are covered with snow🌨, and the soft light emitted by the gas lamps on the side of the road is like walking into the fairy tale world of Spirited Away. The retro street view, the silver-white winter snow scene⛄️, the romantic winter atmosphere, attracts countless people to visit in winter! Transportation: Take the JR from Tokyo to Oishida Station🚉, transfer to the Obanazawa City Bus, and go directly to Ginzan Onsen Viewing: The best travel time for Ginzan Onsen is from late October to January. You can see red leaves🍁 from late October, and you can see beautiful snow scenes from late November. Experience the hot spring: Coming to Ginzan Onsen to soak in the hot spring is a must-choose project. Finding a comfortable hot spring inn will be a great👑 experience in winter. Note: Because it is far from the city, public transportation is not very convenient. You can stay in the hot spring town for one night, because the night🌃 is the best viewing time for the town

The romantic guide to the hard-to-book Yuzawa Onsen is available in December

【Yuzawa Onsen】AKA top-notch hot spring town in Japan, it is even harder to book a room in winter🔥Reservations often need to be made more than half a year in advance But❗We say🙋plans can't keep up with changes, and there are cases where rooms are vacated due to last-minute cancellations❗There is still a great chance of getting a deal - 💃After searching the entire web for room availability, we have summarized the vacant rooms in December for everyone👇 Notoya 15th November (🔥Didn't expect that there would still be rooms in the 'Spirited Away-like bathhouse', if you like it, hurry up❗) Showakan 9/11/16th Yanadaya 14/24th Honkan Kosekiya 10/11/14/15th Fujiya 10th Senkyo no Yado Yuzawa Manor 7th Nagase Hachiro 14th - 📚Yuzawa Onsen - A hot spring town filled with Taisho romance History: A small town that gradually prospered in the 16th century due to the discovery of silver mines Now: It attracts attention because it retains the traces of the Taisho era hot spring inn town, the not long hot spring street has more than a dozen three-story, four-story wooden structure inns, the street view is solemn and calm 💡After nightfall, under the illumination of gas lamps, the retro atmosphere becomes more intense, and it seems like a magical world that Chihiro has traveled to in the snow night - More fun choices around👇 👣Hele Foot Bath Located in the center of the hot spring street, you can enjoy a free foot bath as soon as you sit down, while enjoying the romantic street view . 🍶Kaminohata Pottery Center Located next to the 'Juban Ichiban Ruins' at the entrance of the hot spring street, not only does it display exquisite 'Kaminohata' porcelain, but the potter Ito Piaotang also works here, and you can also experience pottery creation 🈺Closed on Wednesdays *In addition to winter, you can also visit the Silver Pit, which is a 15-minute walk from the town

Winter Wonderland Hot Springs ♨️

Hey, folks! Get ready for a virtual adventure at Ginzan Onsen, a hidden gem in Japan! 🌸🇯🇵 Immerse yourself in the tranquil hot springs of hakone Ginzan Onsen, surrounded by stunning nature and traditional architecture. 🏯💦 Indulge in local delicacies that will make your taste buds dance with joy. 🍜🍡 Join me on this magical journey to Ginzan Onsen and experience pure relaxation! 🎥✨ Don't miss out! #GinzanOnsen #HakoneHotSprings #JapanAdventures

❄️ Winter Wonderland Escape Itinerary ❄️

Experience the Magic of Yinzan Onsen, Zao, and Miyagi Fox Village 
1⃣️Day 1: Tokyo - Ouchi-juku - Yinzan Onsen Ancient Street
🌅 Morning: Depart from Tokyo and head to Ouchi-juku in Fukushima.
☀️ Afternoon: Explore Ouchi-juku, a picturesque Edo-era thatched roof village. Immerse yourself in its traditional Japanese charm and savor local cuisine.
🌆 Evening: Arrive at Yinzan Onsen Ancient Street. Take a leisurely stroll through the charming streets, relishing the Taisho-era ambiance. Don't forget to capture the enchanting scenes of snow-covered streets. 
2⃣️Day 2: Zao Ropeway, Snow Monsters, and Miyagi Fox Village
☀️ Morning: Rise early and embark on an adventure to witness the awe-inspiring "Million Snow Monsters" in Zao. Take the cable car for a panoramic view of this mesmerizing natural wonder.
🍱 Noon: Enjoy lunch amid the snow-covered landscapes of Zao.
🚗 Afternoon: Experience the thrill of riding the "Snow Monster Car" as it weaves through the snowy terrain.
🦊 Late Afternoon: Head to Miyagi Fox Village, a sanctuary for adorable foxes. Spend time observing, interacting, and even holding these charming creatures.
🌌 Evening: Bid farewell to the foxes and start your journey back to Tokyo.
Highlights of Your Winter Escape:
❤️ Yinzan Onsen Delights: While accommodations may be fully booked, a leisurely evening stroll through Yinzan Onsen Street offers a taste of the Taisho-era charm. Indulge in foot baths and day-trip hot springs along the street.
❄️ Zao's Snowy Spectacle: Marvel at the "Million Snow Monsters" in the Zao Ice Trees. Capture stunning photos from the cable car and experience the thrill of the "Snow Monster Car."
🦊 Miyagi Fox Village: Encounter and interact with countless adorable foxes in a picturesque forest setting.
🏡 Ouchi-juku's Timeless Beauty: Explore the Edo-period village of Ouchi-juku, which transforms into a snowy fairy tale during winter. 
🏷️Travel Tips:
🧥 Dress Warm: Pack essential winter gear, including warm clothing, scarves, gloves, snow boots, waterproof and slip-resistant shoes.
🌙 Evening Strolls: Keep in mind that evening strolls on Yinzan Onsen Street can get chilly, so dress warmly.
😎 UV Protection: The Zao region experiences strong daytime UV rays, so don't forget to bring sunglasses.
Immerse yourself in the winter wonderland of Yinzan Onsen, Zao, and Miyagi Fox Village on this unforgettable two-day escape from Tokyo. Enjoy the magic of snow-covered landscapes and create lasting memories along the way. ❄️🦊🌟

Ginzan Onsen experience

Address - Hakodate & Ginzan Onsen Ambiance/Facilities - Winter with snowfall! Fairy white experience Highlights - Like a fairytale scenery and snowfall making it so romantic Avg. Price per Person - $4k for the total trip for 17 days Rating - Best and must try! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Top Japan Night Poster Scenes, Ginzan Onsen

If you have never been to this onsen town, you will be totally never imagined how beautiful is the night scenery in this Japan old onsen town. The small whole town is surrounded 3 sides by the snow mountains that it seems that the times wind back to the Edo period when walk into this fairyland. It is even better when the night falls with the snow falling from the sky. All the photos taken like the poster cards. Most of the onsen inns are more than a century ago. You must pre-book the onsen rooms 6-months ahead of the trip if you want to stay within the area. Alternatively, you can stay at Tendo area and take the night tour bus to the town to enjoy the beautiful night views. It is a day-tour operating every night in the winter season. Definitely, it is a must-see night attraction if you are planning to go to Yamagata or Fukushima areas for travel.

Ginzan Onsen

U will never forget in your life once you visited Ginzan Onsen during winter season ☃️❄️ #ginzanonsen #historicallandmarks #localguides #mytravelhacks #falltrip #Japan #Winter

Ginzan Onsen exploring ♨️😘

#timetotravel Ginzan Onsen (銀山温泉, lit. "Silver Mountain Hot Spring") is a secluded hot spring town nestled in the mountains of Yamagata Prefecture. The area originally developed around a silver mine; however, these days it is better known as one of Japan's prettiest onsen towns with historic ryokan lined up along the river. Ginzan Onsen's traditionally styled ryokan occupy beautiful three and four story wooden buildings that, with their exposed woodwork and white plaster walls, evoke nostalgic feelings of a bygone era. There is one exception, however, in the Fujiya ryokan at the center of town, which was recently rebuilt by famous modern architect Kuma Kengo. Although purists may find it out of place, its unique modern design incorporates many of the traditional design elements of the surrounding buildings, such as the same exposed wood and white plaster.

ginzan onsen#温泉

Discover amazing Nikko Toshogu Shrine

#fallishere It’s was such an amazing experience when we visited this historical site . Many beautiful heritage buildings and tree around the area, it will be wonderful when you visiting during autumn. The whole place will change into the colors of falls! Natural colors was added to the historical site . It required ticket to enter to the site our ticket including in the tour . Suggest you to take tour package to visit here as out of town area . Lovely place to visit highly recommended ! 👍🏻 #awesomepic #couplestrip

Autumn in Nikko Toshogu 🍂🍁

Nikko Toshogu Shrine - The most renowned shrine of “the Shrines and Temples of Nikko”-a UNESCO world heritage site where Ieyasu Tokugawa, the great Shogun who started the Edo Period, is enshrined. Most of the shrine complex you see today was rebuilt in 17th century. The shrine contains 55 buildings including 8 national treasures and 34 listed buildings. The highlights are many colorful buildings which are richly decorated with gorgeous carvings. Do not miss the symbol of peace “Sleeping Cat”, and the “Three Monkeys” with the “see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil” poses! It was already closed when we got there so we didn't see what's inside. We went in November, most of the leaves fell. Best time to experience autumn in Nikko is prolly October. It's extremely cold in Nikko so just be ready. Location: 2301 Sannai, Nikko-city, Tochigi Prefecture #helloautumn

#christmasgiveaway

When I hear a place described using the words “best” or “most”, I become skeptical of the claim. Sometimes I’m even disappointed upon visiting, since not every place warrants such high praise. However, that was not the case with Nikko Toshogu Shrine- it absolutely lives up to the hype of being called Japan’s most lavishly decorated shrine. Once you’re at the foot of Sakashita-mon Gate, get ready to climb a flight of 207 stone steps within the tranquil forest backdrop until you reach the tomb of Ieyasu. While the climb may seem daunting, Nikko’s stunning natural surroundings make the trek to the tomb more than worth it. #givethanks #givethanks

Ghibli Town

When I came here on a solo trip last year during the autumn season, I pondered what would it looks like if the entire onsen town is covered in snow. I’ve seen many photos online and it’s dreamy. I was lucky enough to get to visit this Studio Ghibli-inspired onsen town again. And just like how I imagined it to be, a snow wonderland. This town is located in a secluded area in Obanazawa, Yamagata. It’s quite a travel to get there but nothing stops an explorer like me. It was worth it ❄️ P.S. There’s only one restaurant near the onsen town, and there’s a long waiting line. #visitjapan #visitjapanphilippines #japantravel #ginzanonsen #ginzan #yamagata #onsen #japantrip ##freehotelstay